FARNBOROUGH VESPA CLUB

    July 2007      collection of black & white photos added       page down to view.          

                        FARNBOROUGH VESPA CLUB

The club was first formed in Fleet Hampshire, named the Fleet Vespa Club, nicknamed the Fleetfoots. It was started by a former member of the Andover Vespa Club Brian Culvar, the date was July 1961. Membership grew to eight but in the winter this dropped to four.Sally and Pete Fry took over as secretary and meetings were held at their home in Cove, Farnborough.

In 1962 the members Sally and Pete, Wally Falcanner, Peter  Guppy, Martin Cox decided to change the club name to the Farnborough and District Vespa Club and go all out and get more members and the Methodist Hall in Chapel Street, Farnborough became the club meeting place on Thursday evenings. At the end of the year the membership had increased to thirty, some names I can not recall but here are a few:- Mike and Sandra Wake, Dave Weston, Chris and Sally Steadman, Cliff Parsons, Les Hale, Frank Newcombe, Bobby Clark, Janet Williams, Mike Durrant, Doug Lannary, Dave Crane, David Weddel, John, Mary, Dennis Bristow, Pete and Carol Hobbs, Barry and Carol Sivers, Aldrey Bates, Lyne Burling, Dave Sellers, Dave Jones, Cath McGill, Judy Male, Les Gibson. Sorry if I have left any names off. if you were a member please contact  me.

1963 we , attended many rallies, road trials and Sundays runs to places of interest, during this year the word district was dropped from the club name and with a new banner we became the FARNBOROUGH VESPA CLUB branch number 168 of the Vespa Club of Britain.

The club attended many Vespa Club events during the 1960's with succesful results, one of our favourite pass-times was camping and caravan weekends. also at this time there were several marriages, births, and unfortunatley some sad losses.

The club slowly faded away in the early 1970's mainly because of family commitments.

1989. les Hale and Peter Guppy got together and rejoined the Vespa Club GB and with Ian , Carol Kirkpatric, Chris, Sally Stedman and Frank Brookes reformed the Farnborough Club with a new banner and badge.

History update 2007

From about 1990 Les Hale and Peter Guppy have been attending several scooter events.

1994 We attempted to hold a rally which was successful for us but poorly attended, it was a very hot sunny day.

We have tried to attend many Eurovespas plus our 2 yearly trip to Ostende .

Through to the 2000 years Les has now got a X9 500cc complete with trailer, he still has the Cosa 200cc. Peter has tried several Piaggio & Vespa models over this time.

Some sad news Ian Kirkpatric passed away.

Happy news contact has been made with Martin Cox,, Clifford Parsons ,,David Weddell

2007                   Below I have added a collection of black and white photos

Martin Cox

1962 Martin Cox on his GS150, Martin was the first in the club to paint the mudguard and blisters, he was very good at skill rides and the slow ride, Martin worked at a local printers and was very generous to the club with advertising material, his nickname was Jumbo and he liked a glass of beer

1962. Group photo at the Isle Of Wight scooter rally at Easter, it was raining but we are all still smiling, the end of the pier show, part of the rally, top of the bill as Joe (Mr Piano) Henderson. Who!

1962. Peter Guppy on his Sportiquie. Peter was the club secretary for many years and its me trying to keep this site running.